Abstract: A method is disclosed for pre-fetching one or more images associated with a patient study for review by an operator of a diagnostic work station. The method includes the steps of the operator selecting a work list, the work list including a plurality of patient studies pending review by the operator. The method includes establishing a communication link between the diagnostic work station and an image archive, and downloading the one or more images associated with each patient study on the work list from the image archive to the diagnostic work station. The method further includes displaying the one or more images associated with each patient study to the operator on demand, wherein the images associated with the pending patient studies in the selected work list are automatically downloaded in anticipation that the images will be required for review by the operator.